World's Top Gene Synthesis Companies Establish Tough Biosecurity
Screening Protocol
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Form International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) to CoordinateBest Practices in Risk Reduction/Five Member Companies Represent 80 %of Worldwide Gene Synthesis CapacityWashington, D.C./Regensburg, November 19, 2009 - Five of the world'sleading gene synthesis companies today announced agreement that theywill apply a common screening protocol to promote biosecurity in thegene synthesis industry. By screening the sequences of synthetic geneorders and the customers who place them, the companies aim to supportgovernment efforts to prevent the misuse of gene synthesistechnology. Blue Heron Biotechnology, DNA2.0, GENEART, GenScript andIntegrated DNA Technologies together represent approximately 80 % ofthe global gene synthesis capacity. They have formed theInternational Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) to coordinate ongoingbest practices development and to work together with governments andothers concerned to promote the beneficial application of genesynthesis technology and to safeguard biosecurity."We are proud to announce the formation of the International GeneSynthesis Consortium and equally proud of the commitment to thesecure and safe synthesis of DNA it demonstrates", said JohnMulligan, Founder and CSO of Blue Heron Biotechnology. "The depth andbreadth of expertise in gene synthesis represented by theparticipating companies, in concert with our dedication to policybased on sound science and thoughtful leadership, will enable us toshape the growth of a safe gene synthesis industry poised to helpaddress the technological needs of the 21st century.""Safety and security are a chief priority for all of the IGSCcompanies, as the growth of the gene synthesis industry depends on animpeccable safety record. Each of the five founding companies hasdemonstrated a strong commitment to the safe delivery of syntheticDNA by implementing strong internal biosecurity practices", saidProf. Dr. Ralf Wagner, CEO and CSO of GENEART. "We hope that the IGSCwill help to encourage effective collaboration with government andpolicy organizations and promote internationally consistentapproaches to safety and security in gene synthesis.""Each of the IGSC companies have worked over the past several yearsto implement internal sequence and customer screening processes,while contributing to the larger conversation amongst governmentagencies, policy organizations and the broader scientific communityabout developing an internationally coordinated approach tobiosecurity", said Nick Yan, Vice President, Marketing of GenScriptUSA. "Recognizing that achieving real gains in biosecurity requiresharmonization of screening and other practices, we have drafted aharmonized screening protocol and decided to form the IGSC in aneffort to coordinate ongoing work toward shared best practices in thegene synthesis industry."The IGSC's "Harmonized Screening Protocol for Gene Sequence &Customer Screening to Promote Biosecurity" establishes the five corecomponents that each IGSC company will apply to promote the safe useof synthetic genes:* Gene Sequence Screening: The complete DNA sequence of every synthetic gene order is to be screened against a Regulated Pathogen Database developed by the consortium and one or more of the internationally coordinated sequence reference databanks (i.e., NCBI/GenBank, EBI/EMBL or DDBJ). Amino acid sequences of possible translation products for each synthetic gene ordered will also be screened.* Gene Customer Screening: A complete and thorough screening of each potential gene synthesis customer will be conducted to establish identity and clearance for delivery of genes ordered, in accordance with national guidelines. The screening protocol assigns special considerations to the ordering of Select Agent genes.* Record Keeping: The IGSC companies will keep all screening, customer and order records for at least eight years.* Order Refusal & Reporting: IGSC companies reserve the right to refuse to fill any order and to notify authorities upon identifying potentially problematic orders, coordinating efforts with local and national law enforcement and intelligence agencies.* Regulatory Compliance: IGSC companies comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the synthesis, possession, transport, export and import of gene synthesis and other products."Gene synthesis is the technology driver that will enable researchinstitutions, companies and even individuals or small teams ofscientists to develop solutions to the great challenges of our age,such as climate change, world hunger and pandemic disease. Genesynthesis itself provides us with powerful new opportunities tocombat the threat of bioterrorism", said Jeremy Minshull, presidentof DNA2.0. "We won't tolerate attempts to misuse gene synthesistechnology to threaten the safety of any community. We scrutinize ourorders to ensure that our customers are using our products for theirpotential benefits.""The founding companies of the IGSC have been working hand-in-handwith government and with the greater community of scientists andpolicy advocates to share our expertise in gene synthesis and to helpus all devise the most effective biosecurity practices", said DamonTerrill, Senior Vice President & General Counsel for InternationalLegal and Regulatory Affairs for Integrated DNA Technologies. "Forover three years, that collaboration has included close consultationwith the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Departments ofHomeland Security and State, as well as with governments in Europe,especially. We encourage all companies who conduct gene synthesis toadopt the IGSC's approach to sequence and customer screening, and weinvite any company with significant business in gene synthesis tojoin us in the effort."About the IGSCThe International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) represents thegene synthesis industry. For more information please visitwww.genesynthesisconsortium.org.For further inquiries, please contact:Eric SchubertIGSCPhone: +415-939-4366info(at)genesynthesisconsortium.comFor European inquiries, please contact:Dr. Karoline StürmerGENEART AGJosef-Engert-Str. 1193053 RegensburgGermanyPhone: +49-(0)941-942 76-417Fax: +49-(0)941-942 76-711ir(at)geneart.comwww.geneart.comLegal Information:This document may contain estimates, prognoses and opinions aboutcompany plans and objectives, products or services, future results,opinions about these results or opinions leading up to these results.All these projections into the future are subject to risk,uncertainty and unforeseeable change outside the control of theGENEART Group. Many factors may lead to actual results, whichconsiderably deviate from the given projections for these results.About GENEART AG:In 2000, GENEART entered the Gene Synthesis market and has sincebecome the global market leader. Today, the company is one of theleading specialists in the Synthetic Biology field. Experts atGENEART provide key technologies for the development and productionof new therapeutics and vaccines. Customers also take advantage ofGENEART services to customize enzyme attributes, such as theattributes of enzymes used as detergent additives, and to constructbacteria, which produce complex biopolymers or break down polymers,such as synthetics, petroleum components, etc. GENEART's serviceportfolio ranges from the optimization and production of syntheticgenes according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000, to the generation of genevariants or complex gene libraries and the production of cell lines,to the development and production of DNA and protein based drugcandidates. GENEART AG in Regensburg and its subsidiaries GENEARTInc. in Toronto (Canada) and GENEART Inc. in San Francisco (USA)employ about 180 people. The company is listed on the German StockExchange since May 2006.http://hugin.info/136633/R/1356103/329434.pdf --- End of Message ---Geneart AGJosef-Engert-Str.11 Regensburg GermanyWKN: A0JJ4L; ISIN: DE000A0JJ4L4; Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf, Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin, Open Market (Freiverkehr) in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart;
Datum: 19.11.2009 - 12:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 8627
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Town:
London
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 264 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"World's Top Gene Synthesis Companies Establish Tough Biosecurity
Screening Protocol"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Geneart AG (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
